Man Is Shot in Post Office
A man shot and critically wounded an acquaintance in a San Pedro post office Wednesday and fled to an apartment complex, where police cornered him in the bushes.
The shooting occurred at 9:40 a.m. in the lobby of the facility in the 800 block of Beacon Street after the 26-year-old victim slugged the suspect in the face, authorities said. The suspect “stepped back, pulled out a gun and shot the other man in the abdomen,” said Los Angeles Police Capt. Julie Nelson.
The suspect ran but was captured at 2:30 p.m. hiding in shrubbery at the Rancho San Pedro apartments, about eight blocks north of the post office.
Three clerks and six customers were in the post office when the shooting occurred, postal officials said.
One woman chased the shooter for several blocks and helped direct arriving officers, police said.
Sgt. Robert Teramura said Rafael Hernandez, 23, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder.
The victim was in critical but stable condition at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
